Greer's OC

Looking for a new southern-style BBQ joint in Orange County? An award-wining barbecue concept from Chicago, Lillie’s Q just opened in Brea Downtown. Chef Charlie McKenna and partner Joe Manzella of TAPS Fish House & Brewery are bringing competition-level BBQ, timeless Southern cuisine and original moonshine cocktails to North Orange County. It marks McKenna’s fourth location; the original and flagship location debuted in 2010 in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago.

Lillie’s Q, named after Mckenna’s grandmother, Lillie, and his father, Quito, has locations throughout Chicago and Destin, Fla.

Lillie’s Q specializes in slow-smoked pork shoulder, tri-tip, baby back ribs, hot links, and chicken cooked in custom-built smokers over peach wood and lump charcoal.

True to its Southern origins, starters include oysters with eastern North Carolina vinegar sauce, fried pickles, pimiento cheese, hush puppies with sweet potato dressing and pork rinds. Stews and salads include Brunswick Stew—tomato, smoked pork and chicken, corn and lima beans—Q Salad and Southern Caesar with crawfish tails.

Q meats are available by the half or whole pound with several seasoned with Caroline Dirt, Grandma Lillie’s sugar-based barbecue rub. It’s recommended to go for a Taste of LQ—a pick of three meats. The restaurant will start serving its famous “Whole Hog Dinner” in January. This meal comes with eight starters and sides, feeds six to eight and requires a 48-hour notice. It is priced at $325.

Other entrees include shrimp & grits, smoked fried chicken with Tupelo honey, crawfish roll, cornmeal batter Pacific snapper and Memphis tacos with smoked pork, coleslaw, housemade tortillas and hot smoky salsa verde.

Nine sides include cornbread with Tupelo honey butter, Southern-style coleslaw, baked beans, green beans, collard greens with ham hock, mac & cheese, sweet potato or seasoned fries and stone-ground grits with housemade bacon.

Dessert selections include banana pudding, a specialty recipe from Lillie made with Nila wafers, seasonal fruit cobbler and a root beer float made with local root beer.

Lillie’s signature cocktails are Moonshine-based (corn whiskey that has not been barrel-aged) and served in old-fashioned Mason jars. Popular drinks include Apple Hooch & Ginger, M&M&M (McKenna Bourbon, Moonshine and mint syrup) and McKenna’s take on the classic Bloody Mary, the Morning Lillie, garnished with a housemade beef stick.   

Beer enthusiasts can enjoy Lillie’s Q Hog-Tied Amber, a beer expressly brewed for the opening by TAPS brewmaster David Huls, as well as a selection of American craft beers with a focus on local breweries, four highly-regarded TAPS beers on tap, in addition to a selection of bottled and canned beers.

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weekedends.

240 S. Brea Blvd. in Brea. 714.482.2001.

From The Dressing Room with 'Dixie's Tupperware Party'

"Dixie's Tupperware Party" is unlike anything you've ever seen. Dixie Longate, your host for the night, will have you laughing all evening long with her scantily clad anecdotes and passion for "plastic crap." Complete with audience involvement and free giveaways, you can even buy the Tupperware featured in the show!

Greer's Girl, Kelley Moody brings us a "From The Dressing Room" interview with the outspoken Dixie Longate here.

Tickets are available for purchase online scfta.org and will be playing until January 4, 2015 at the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.